Brittney Olson, one of the first women to participate in The Race of Gentlemen and an owner of 20th Century Racing, is co-sponsoring a three-day fund-raising event in Sturgis, South Dakota, to benefit the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame and aid the preservation of the historic Sturgis half mile dirt track. Indian Motorcycles of Sturgis and 20th Century Racing are the event’s key sponsors, with assistance from the White Plate Flat Trackers Association (WPFTA).
Brittney Olson kicks her 1938 Indian Sport Scout to life at TROG East in 2016. Photo by Kurt Ernst.
The Spirit of Sturgis Vintage Motorcycle Festival will run from from August 26 – 28, and features a benefit party, swap meet, guided Gypsy tours, Oil and Ink motorcycle art show, and bike show with a few motorcycle-focused films shown at dusk on Friday as well. Kids are invited to attend with their parents and there will be many things they can do themselves, including bicycle field games and a class in the art of kick starting a motorcycle in the infield of the track on Friday.
Vintage flat track dirt racing will run on Friday, August 26, with Brittney competing on her 1938 Indian Sport Scout against many other riders on vintage dirt track racing bikes. She will also be hosting the benefit party in the infield at the conclusion of Friday’s racing.
The track is located at 1802 Ballpark Road in Sturgis, on the former Meade County Fairgrounds, and has been hosting horse and motorcycle racing for over 100 years. Because the track is only used a few times a year (The Pappy Hoel Classic Races have been held there for the last two years during Sturgis Bike Week), the value of the property for commercial development has resulted in the real possibility that the track will be sold and used for other purposes. Town officials have awarded a limited three-year stewardship of the track to the WPFTA, but this expires in 2017. Brittney and the WPFTA have been trying to raise awareness (and money) for the track since 2014.
Vintage motocross racing, featuring riders from Hell on Wheels Racing of California, will be on Jack Pine Gypsy’s motocross track on Saturday the 27th. The Jack Pine Gypsies motocross track is located at 1216 Short Track Road in Sturgis and has been the home of motocross cycle racing since 1938. Vintage dirt drags for pre-1970 bikes will also be featured on Saturday. Trophies and an awards banquet will follow the day’s racing. Guided Gypsy tours will be available to tour the area’s scenic venues on all three days including Sunday the 28th.
The gates open at 10 a.m. on both Friday and Saturday, and tickets are priced from $20 to $50, with general admission bleacher tickets for children priced at $5 ($10 for infield tickets). For more information, or to buy tickets, head on over to SpiritOfSturgis.com.
See original article at" https://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2016/08/15/spirit-of-sturgis-vintage-motorcycle-festival-raising-funds-to-keep-historic-dirt-track-from-the-bulldozer-blade/
No comments:
Post a Comment